Faculty advisors other than a student’s primary research advisor can play a critical role in offering an additional perspective to navigating both professional development and supporting students through interpersonal conflict. JILA mentors are important pillars in the community who advocate for our core values: excellence, respect, support, collaboration, and curiosity. 

From a survey conducted of JILA graduate students (see more in-depth results below):

• 39% believe there is access to quality advising in JILA compared (university average is 84%). 

• 58% believe JILA creates a collegial and supportive environment (university average is 84%). 

• 58% said they would currently make use of inclusive advising and 94% said they knew fellow graduate students who would benefit from the service.

JILA Inclusive Advising is a program set up by the advocacy arm of JAGS. Our goal is to connect students with JILA Advising Members (JAMs) -- faculty advisors who understand the current climate within JILA -- who are prepared to listen empathetically and constructively to students of all different backgrounds. The JAMs participated in a 90-minute group training in Fall 2024 focused on active listening, knowledge of campus resources, and establishing norms for this program. Right now, this program is limited to graduate students within JILA as we gauge interest in advising. See the expectations for JAMs page below.

You can email a JAM to set up a time to talk– about your research process, navigating interpersonal conflicts in lab, long-term career goals, or anything else. You don't need to be elaborate in your message, though some broad themes can be helpful for the JAM to know what to expect. It can be as simple as "Re: JILA Inclusive Advising meeting. I'd like to schedule time to talk about how I can respond to a difficult coworker."

JAMs are busy! Sometimes, the JAM emailed may be unable to meet– if so, they will let the student know. Students are welcome to email/talk to multiple JAMs.

If you have any questions or want help to use JILA Inclusive Advising, feel free to email the JAGS Advocacy Committee.

All JAMs will...

• Listen with respect 

• Validate feelings 

• Have information on campus resources, and can provide help in navigating them. 

In cases where both JAM and student agree, JAMs may...

• Work with students to help/fix problems they are facing

• Mediate disagreements with other advisors or students 

• Become long-term secondary mentors to students 

JAMs are not...

• Therapists 

• Professional mediators 

• Adjudicators of codes of conduct or discrimination policies (though JAMs will be knowledgeable of campus resources and give appropriate referrals)

Privacy: 

1. All JAMs are mandatory reporters. What does this mean? Any incidents of discrimination or harassment based on protected class (gender, race, ethnicity, disability status, etc); or stalking, sexual assault or intimate partner abuse; must be shared with OIEC. OIEC will reach out to the student. In the vast majority of cases (unless there is imminent risk of violence), the student remains completely in control (does not need to respond to OIEC, and nothing else happens). [1, 2]

2. JAMs can identify any point where the student is veering into space that they personally don’t feel comfortable holding in confidence. They will end the conversation and set that boundary, and refer students to other JAMs or resources if wanted. 

3. JAMs will never speak to the student’s advisor, other JAMs, or any other faculty without the student’s explicit permission. 

Some of our long-term goals are to increase pay transparency, promote accountability, and cultivate a culture of respect and fairness among all JILAn's.